San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-08
John Caskie's Story,


Did | ever tell you Of the very narrow
escape made on my way from Virginia
to Mississippi, asked John Caskie, Of
me, one day rs we were bowling along
In buggy drawn by a span OF spanking
horses. replied 10 the negative; and
requested him to relate the particulars
OF the Incident, or accident, whichever
IL Was, that had come so near proving
fatal TO him. "Well, IL was In 1882, and
there was a sort Of exodus of the peo-
pie from the older states TO the territory
but recently acquired from the Choctaw
and Chickasaw tribes OF Indians. Some
were attracted by the spirit Of adven-
ture and the love Of hunting and others
by the desire OF lettering their fortunes,
but my motive for ling my farm on
the Rivana river, and removing to the
wilderness OF the southwest, was my
fondness for hunting and my love OF Ma
ture Ia her native grsces. In 1882, there
was no way Of travelling from Virginia
to Mississippi except on horse back, or
In a road wagon, go set forth on horse
back, and alone, TO make this long and
tedious journey. [ was only 70 years
old, and full OF health and strength,
hope and courage-and with that sort Of
craving for adventure and romance pecu-
liar to early manhood. Nothing par.
ticularly remarkable happened to me
until 7 reached Clinch river, In the Cum
berland mountains, In the state of Ten
nessee. My route was by Kingston. but
more commonly called the Boat Yard,
on the Holstein river, through Knox
Vile, Tenn, to Huntsville, Ala, thence
to Columbus, Mics. l. crossed the
Clinch just about Sunset, and as
it WAS said to be six miles to the
next house, concluded to stay all night
at the farm house which 1 had observed
on the brow Of the hill. 1 was ascending
from the valley along which the river
wound it's way. My request for nights
lodging was acceded TO promptly
enough by the farmer and was shown
into a room where fire was cracking
and blazing. There Is something cheer
full and comfortable In a log lire In fire.
place, that 10 wanting In a stove, and, to
he perfectly candid. | have no use for
stoves
The supper was a plain, substantial
country meal, which, being hungry, |
enjoyed exceedingly. The landlord told
me several stories OF men who had been
murdered by their travelling compan-
ions, or their oolored servants for the
money they had about them, and among
them, one made no small impression on
my mind. AS he related Ii, a wealthy
gentleman accompanied by his negro
servant. stayed at night at house on
Cumberland mountain, and made his
servant sleeI In the same room. During
the night, the servant noiseles sly MUIR
dered his master by cutting his throat,
as he slept, and taking his money,
watch, etc, mounted his masters horse
and made good his escape from pursuit,
as he was never again seen or heard Of
around the scene of his crime. There
was really nothing at all improbable or
unnatural In the stories related TO me
| by the embellishments have often
been known to have killed their masters
In order TO rob them, and travelling CON-
panions have been known to kill their
comrades-but one circumstance struck
me as exceedingly singular. and that
was that the alleged robber and
murderer either effected his escape with
his plumber, or was killed by the pur-
suers. None Of them were tried by the
courts, or made any confession.
The house was two-story house,
made Of rough boards and plank, and the
/ sleeping room assigned TO me was In the
upper story. 1t had no furniture except
chair and a rough table. I examined
the door lock and was glad to perceive
that the door could be securely fastened
from the inside, which now proceeded
to do. My pistols were placed where
they could be grssped in moment 10
case they we're needed, and pretty soon
after getting into bed was asleep but
not soundly. l was restless, and my
sleep was uneasy, broken by unpleasant
dreams, yet did not feel rs though |
had eaten too heartily at supper.
ToNEY.